I'm really sorry for taking so long to keep everyone updated as to how things are going here. So far it's closing in on three weeks. It really doesn't seem that long to be quite honest. Very soon it'll be a whole month here. (I know right...) So what's been new... what's been goin on... Well here's the basic run down....
Arrival and set up
I came into São Paulo and then went from there to Vitória. While I was in São Paulo I got hit hard for extra weight charges... It was obscene... Anyway... aside from that things went smoothly. I made the TAM flight to Vitória and I was picked up by one of the elders (Nilson) in the congregation and I stayed at his house for a while. We checked out a few apartments and I was able to find one at a good price in the neighborhood. It's actually 5-10 minutes from the hall, just up the block from Nilson, and nearby all of the restaurants in the area. And the restaurants are good! There's this one that I go to regularly called Prato Cheio (Full Plate.. my kinda place right?) Well the food there is great and not expensive. A typical meal (for me) can run about R$14-16 not including drink or desert. But that will run about $7 USD. Starting about Wednesday they start running the Churrasco pit and they have some awesome churrasco. I would go on and on about the restaurants but really talking about them won't do it justice. You really need to come and see. The transit system is good and bad at the same time. Good in that it'll get you everywhere you want to go. The bad thing is you need to figure out which bus will get you there and where the stops are. There are two main bus systems that are reliable to take. But the problem is that there are no maps that I've found yet. So it's been interesting trying to learn them. But I'll get it... eventually.... lol. The apartment itself is simple and has what I need. I quickly got it set up with the internet. (15MB connection baby...) but I just realized that the Modem/Router is garbage... thank goodness I brought my own router... But so far I like the place. I'm gradually getting the things I need for it. The main things I'm working on so far: oven, washer machine, microwave, and a couple other things but those are the main three. So I'm working on it gradually because I have a few trips I'm making in the next few months.... Oh also before I forget one thing that I don't like is the mosquitos.... In the first week I got 30 bites... on ONE arm.... but fortunately after following the advice of some friends I was able to nip that in the bud quick...... So now I don't look like I have chicken pox anymore... smh
Ministry, Congregation, and Friends
Well as for the main reason I'm here, the congregation, I of course love it. Everyone has a good spirit. It was nice to be able to catch up with many of them again. It's an awesome congregation. They of course need help with their English especially since just about all of the congregation is learning or speaks English as a second language. Plus like any congregation (and me for that matter.. lol) they need encouragement. Like any foreign language territory the territory is constantly changing. People are constantly moving or only there for the summer. Plus just like any territory sometimes people don't want to listen or be bothered. One example we found one american living in the city Guaraparí. But when we went to the place it was walled up, the intercom was ripped out and so was any doorbell. Plus there were cameras on the wall. Yeah, this guy doesn't want to be bothered... We'll find him tho... You can't run from Jehovah... Then tack on trying to learn the language with a crazy work schedule. The friends make great effort on their parts and demonstrate a willing spirit to be used by Jehovah. Consider coming to help them please!
Most of our mininstry is search work trying to find these guys but that doesn't mean that I haven't found anyone! My boy Otavio Santos refered me to a guy in Vila Velha (neighbor city to Vitória) and I'm working on trying to catch up with him again. He's a guy from Florida who is married to a Brazilian. Initially when me and my boy Otavio met him he was kinda apprehensive but I just chatted with him about where I was from and where he was from and how he liked Brazil and the defenses came down. And then I heard those words... "Come back anytime...". So hopefully we'll get to speak again. It's been tough since he lives in the next city over but I'm trying my best. I've tried a couple of times already to no avail but hopefully I'll be able to catch him this week. Also when I was spending a weekend in Vila Velha with Otavio and his wife Priscila I went with him to his job. He works as a teacher in this city called Viviana. He's teaching them English and he wanted me to come by so that I can bring something different to the class. It was awesome! Everyone in the class is super cool and nice. It was an amazing experience. But at the end of the class then Otavio started handing out Watchtowers to everyone and I was like shocked... Try doing that in the US.... you'll be fired quickly. And people were taking them. Now the class is made up of young people in their late teens and older people up to their 50s. It was a mixed crowd. And again... I was shocked. And then he told me to start giving out the tracts I had and when he told them I had tracts to give people were grabbing them out of my hands. One student was mad that I didn't have the one she wanted and that she had to settle for another... (yeah... really)
Aside from that when I was in Vila Velha I got to go to a wedding! The weddings here are so much better than in the US. It actually is about celebrating the marriage and the couple... What do I mean? Well after the talk they present the bride, and then... party.. food.... that's it... and of course dancing. But no speeches, no talent show, now big show for everyone to see. I loved it and the food was great! Not that tasteless food that sometimes is at weddings but REAL food. It was great! But anyway... I have to get up for service in the morning. I'm not promising updates each day or week but I'll do the best I can to keep you updated with what's going on. Also I'm trying to work out how I can post pictures on a regular basis. I normally use Instagram but there is no directlink from there to Blogger or Google+. I'll find out eventually... Photo albums coming soon! Anyway I love you all and hope to talk to you soon.... and yes.... I'm planning on staying here as long as Jehovah allows....
Abraço forte
Chris
ctjones15@gmail.com
Google+ (where I share my photos) https://plus.google.com/u/0/100513073294452098375/posts
Google+ (where I share my photos) https://plus.google.com/u/0/100513073294452098375/posts
P.S. - please email me if you want my information like my magic jack number, my skype name, my phone number for Brazil. Usually the easiest way to keep in touch with me is by Whatsapp. (on any major phone OS) My Missiouri number is gone so I'll need to get you my Brazilian number. But if you want to keep in touch or reach me fast Whatsapp is the best way.
Google Maps links:
Prato Cheio
My Neighborhood
